Sewing-machine attachment.



' No. 862,392.. PATENTED AUG. 6, 1907.

DE LA F. HARRIS. SEWING MACHINE ATTACHMENT. APPLICATION nun 1mm 22 1906 [/VVENTOR A TIORNE ys giYVESSES: v

UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

DE LA F. HARRIS, OF FLORENCE, SOUTH CAROLINA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-FOURTH TO WILLIAM T. HARRIS, OF VIRGIL INA, VIRGINIA, AND ONE-FOURTH TO L. T. HARVEY,

OF FARMVILLE, VIRGINIA.

SEWING-MACHINE ATTACHIMENT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 6, 190'7'.

Application filed Tune 22, 1906. Serial No. 322,980.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DE LA FLETCHER HARRIS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Florence, in the county of Florence and State of South Carolina, have invented a new and useful Sewing-Machine Attachment, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to sewing-machine attachments and more particularly to means for operating the machine independently of the foot-treadle.

The object of the invention is to provide a comparatively simple, and inexpensive device of this character capable of being quickly attached to a sewing-machine without the employment of bolts, nuts and similar fas tening devices and which may readily be adjusted to fit different styles of machines.

A still further object of the invention is to generally improve this class of devices so as to increase their utility, durability and efficiency as well as to reduce the cost of manufacture.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it being understood that various changes inform, proportions and minor details of construction may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification: Figure 1 is a transverse sectional view of a sewing-machine showing the attachment applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the operating handle and its associated parts detached. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view showing the parts assembled and clamped in position on the frame.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all of the figures of the drawings.

The improved operating mechanism may be used in connection with any approved form or style of sewingmachine and by way of illustration is shown applied to a machine of the ordinary construction in which 5 designates the supporting frame, 6 the foot-treadle and 7 the driving-wheel operatively connected with the treadle by the pitman 8.

Secured .to the frame on one side of the machine is an attaching member consisting of parallel bars 9 and 10 one of which is provided with laterally extending pins or lugs 11 which engage corresponding openings 12 formed in the adjacent bar, said bars being locked in engagement with the frame 5 by means of cotter pins 13 passing through perforations 14 formed in the laterally extending pins as shown. Associated with the attaching member is a locking key or wedge 15 adapted to be inserted between one of the bars constituting the attaching member and the frame of the machine when provided with a reduced extension 17 on which is pivotally mounted one end of a hand-operated lever 18. The lever 18 is slidably mounted for lateral movement on the extension 17 and is locked in adjusted position by means of cotter-pins 19 passing through suitable perforations 20 formed in the walls of the extension 17 thereby to center the operating handle With respect to the driving-wheel of the machine. The free end of the lever 18 terminates in an operating handle 21 and pivoted on a lug 22 extending laterally from said handle at a point adjacent the free end thereof is a connecting link 23 the opposite end of which is seated in the bifurcated end 24 of a clamping-member 25. The clamping member 25 is formed with a longitudinal slot 26 opening through one end thereof and adapted to receive the pitman 8, and extending transversely through openings formed in the walls of the clamping-member is a pin or bolt 27, there being a locking key or wedge 28 interposed between the pin 27 and the adjacent wall of the pitman 8 for clamping the member 25 in position on said pitman. The link 23 is secured to the lug 22 by means of a cotter-pin 29 and the opposite end of said link is pivotally mounted within the bifurcated end of the clamping member 25 by a transverse pin 30 provided with a similar cotter-pin 31. It will thus be seen that the several parts comprising the operating mechanism may be readily disconnected to permit the same to be compactly stored for transportation or shipment and when assembled may be quickly attached to the machine without the employment of screws, bolts, rivets and similar auxiliary fastening devices.

In applying the device the bars 9 and 1 0 are placed in position on the opposite sides of the frame with the pins 11 passing through the openings 12 and secured by means of the cotter-pins 13. The wedge 15 is then inserted between the parallel bars thereby clamping the latter in engagement with the frame. The lever 18 is then placed in position on the extension 17 and connected with the pitman 8 by means of the clamping member 25, n1; latter being securely fastened to the pitman by inserting the wedge or locking key 28 between the pin and pitman, as before stated. It will thus be seen that the machine may be continuously operated either by foot or hand power and when footpower alone is employed the hand-lever may be used for throwing the crank-shaft off dead center.

By having the attaching member formed in two sec- 17 said lever maybe spaced at any desired distance from the adjacent side of the frame so as not to interfere With the rotation of the driving-wheel.

If desired the operating lever may be provided with a second lug 33 disposed in spaced relation to the lug 22 so that the link may be adjusted vertically on the lever thereby to vary the throw of the same.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that there is provided an extremely simple, inexpensive and eflicient device admirably adapted for the attainment of the ends in view.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed is:

1. An attachment for sewing machines including a member adapted to be secured to the frame of the machine and consisting of spaced clamping bars one of which is provided with a reduced extension, an operating handle pivotally mounted for sliding movement on said extension and having its free end provided with a laterally projecting lug, a clamping member adapted to engage the pitman of the driving-wheel, a link pivotally mounted on the lug and serving to connect the clamping member and operating lever, pins carried by one of the clamping bars and engaging corresponding openings in the opposite bar, and fastening devices engaging said pins for locking said bars in e11 gagement with the frame.

2. An attachment for sewing machines including a member adapted to be secured to the frame of the machine and comprising spaced clamping bars oneof which is provided with laterally extending perforated pins adapted to engage correspondingly shaped openings formed in the adjacent bar, fastening devices engaging the perforations in the pins, a Wedge shaped locking key adapted to be interposed between the bars for clamping the latter in engagement with the frame, an extension formed on'one of the bars, an operating lever pivotally mounted on the extension, and a link pivotally mounted on the operating lever and adapted to engage the driving-wheel.

3. An attachment for sewing machines including a member adapted to be secured to the frame of the machine and consisting of spaced clamping bars one of which is provided with a reduced perforated extension, an operating lever pivotally mounted for sliding movement on said extension, fastening devices engaging the perforations in the extension and bearing against the opposite sides of the operating lever for centering the latter, a clamping member adapted to be secured to the pitman of the driving-wheel and having one end thereof bifurcated, a link seated in the bifurcated end of the clamping member and pivotally connected with the free end of the operating lever, and means for clamping said bars in engagement with the frames.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afiixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

DE LA F. HARRIS.

Witnesses E HUME TALBERT, W. J. DILLON. 

